Alachua County Community Development Block Grant Application for Funding

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Alachua County Community DevelopmentBlock
GrantApplication for Funding

• 1st Public Hearing
• August 12, 2008

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Purpose

• Two public hearings are required for a Community
  Development Block Grant (CDBG) application.
• This first public hearing will allow citizens
  and commissioners input, outline CDBG grant
  categories, and provide a staff recommendation on
  a CDBG grant category.
• The second public hearing, in September, will
  allow for public comments before the CDBG grant
  application is submitted.

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Background

• The CDBG Program is
• A federal grant program that, through the State
  of Florida, Alachua County is eligible to apply
  for
• A primary source of funding for housing and
  community development
• Used for a variety of community development
  activities such as residential and nonresidential
  property rehabilitation, homeownership
  assistance, and economic development.

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CDBG Objectives

• National objectives
• Undertake activities that principally benefit low
  and moderate income persons
• Prevent or eliminate slum or blight
• Address urgent needs of recent origin for which
  there is no other funding.

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Small Cities CDBG Program

• Floridas Small Cities CDBG Program
• Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and
  Urban Development (HUD)
• Administered by the Department of Community
  Affairs (DCA)
• Available to cities with less than 50,000
  residents and counties with less than 200,000
  residents.

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Grant Categories

• There are four primary categories under which
  Alachua County may apply for funding
• Housing Rehabilitation
• Neighborhood Revitalization
• Commercial Revitalization
• Economic Development.

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Housing
Rehabilitation

• Objective is to improve housing conditions and
  expand housing opportunities for very low, low,
  and moderate income persons by
• Rehabilitation of substandard houses
• Demolition of dilapidated housing
• Relocation to replacement housing
• Installation of wells/septic tanks (where potable
  water or sewer service is not available)
• Mitigation of future natural disaster hazards.

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Neighborhood Revitalization

• Objective is to revitalize declining
  neighborhoods and improve infrastructure by
  addressing problems that influence neighborhood
  vitality by
• Construction or improvement of infrastructure
  (roads, drainage, and water/sewer facilities)
• Construction/rehabilitation of neighborhood
  facilities that provide community services
• Construction/rehabilitation of facilities for
  persons with disabilities and removal of
  architectural barriers
• Mitigation of natural disaster hazards.

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Commercial Revitalization

• Objective is to revitalize commercial areas that
  are showing signs of decline by
• Repair/rehabilitation of building facades
• Construction/reconstruction of streets,
  utilities, public spaces, parking facilities,
  etc.
• Acquisitions of substandard or blighted
  properties to carry out a redevelopment plan.

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Economic Development

• Objectives are to provide long-term jobs, promote
  private capital investment, and expand local tax
  bases by
• Providing job training and placement
• Expanding infrastructure to attract or retain
  businesses
• Acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of
  commercial/industrial buildings and structures
• Purchase of capitalized machinery and equipment.

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Previous CDBG Funded Projects

• Alachua County has successfully applied for
  funding and implemented projects under the
  Housing Rehabilitation category
• Federal Fiscal Year 1997
• Federal Fiscal Year 2001
• Federal Fiscal Year 2005-funding was leveraged
  with SHIP funds to rehabilitate five homes and
  provide eleven County residents with new homes.

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Grant Application

• The state does not target Small Cities CDBG
  funding to particular areas.
• The application process favors local governments
  that have undertaken fair housing and equal
  opportunity activities.
• Grants are awarded based on competitively-scored
  applications.

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Application Scoring Criteria

• Based on Community-wide Need Score
• Project Impact (at least 51 of funding must
  benefit low and moderate income persons)
• Outstanding Performance in Equal Opportunity in
  Employment and Housing
• Source and Use of Funds
• Proposed project(s) must be consistent with
  applicable elements of the adopted local
  comprehensive plan
• Proposed project(s) must support at least one
  national objective.

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Grant Ceiling

• The LMI population determines the amount of money
  that can be received.
• Alachua County is eligible to apply for 750,000
  in funding.

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Application Process

• Select a grant category that meets community
  needs after hearing citizens and commissioners
  comments during 1st public hearing
• Create grant application with a grant
  consultants assistance
• Finalize and submit application after public
  review and comment during 2nd public hearing

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Recommendation

• Identifying projects for Neighborhood or
  Commercial Revitalization or Economic Development
  Categories requires long-term planning, thorough
  data collection, and availability of time and
  resources
• The County has had success and has experience in
  applying for and implementing Housing
  Rehabilitation grants
• There is a need for projects within the Housing
  Rehabilitation category in the community
• Staff recommends that the County apply for a CDBG
  grant to fund Housing Rehabilitation projects.

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Next Steps

• Staff will prepare grant application as directed
• A 2nd public hearing for citizens and
  commissioners review and comment will be held
  September 9, 2008
• County will submit grant application to DCA
  before the September 30, 2008 deadline.